The Chicago Bears are set to hire former CFL Most Outstanding Player Kerry Joseph as the team’s new quarterbacks coach, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The move is expected to put Joseph in charge of whoever the Bears select with the number one overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which is projected to be generational USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The team also has current starting quarterback Justin Fields, who was selected 11th overall in 2021, under contract for another season.
Joseph has been a member of the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff since 2020, serving as assistant quarterbacks coach for the past three seasons. There he worked under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who was recently hired in Chicago, to revive the career of veteran Geno Smith, who won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2022 after throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Prior to his time in Seattle, the 50-year-old worked as the passing game coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana University in 2019 and as the co-offensive coordinator at his alma mater McNeese State from 2016 to 2018. He also had training camp internships with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Joseph spent 12 seasons as a quarterback in the CFL, signing with the Ottawa Renegades. ahead of the 2003 season. He went on to enjoy stints with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks before retiring in 2014. His most famous moment came in 2007 when he was named Most Outstanding Player en route to capturing the third Grey Cup championship in Riders’ franchise history.
The six-foot, 215-pound pivot threw for 28,097 yards, 148 touchdowns, and 126 interceptions in his CFL with a 58.4 completion rate. He also added 4,584 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns on the ground.
The native of New Iberia, La. spent five seasons in the NFL prior to arriving in Canada, one with Cincinnati in 1996 and four in Seattle from 1998 until 2002 as a defensive back. He played in 56 games, starting 14, making 143 tackles, defending 11 passes, notching six tackles for loss and three interceptions while returning kicks and punts. Between the two stops, he also played for the London Monarchs and Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.
